Sikorsky, together with Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec, is to withdraw from the current competition managed by the Polish Ministry of Defense to supply the armed forces with 70 multi-role helicopters.

According to Sikorsky, part of United Technologies, the contract was written in such a way that “the technical, legal and economic terms set by the Ministry of National Defense preclude us from participating in the procurement procedure.”

Sikorsky had put forward its S-70i Black Hawk which is made in Poland as the contender in the $3 billion (€1.89 billion) contract. Its competitors are Airbus Helicopters with its EC725 and AgustaWestland through PZL Świdnik offering its AW149.

Reports from the Polish media have claimed that the government sees the letter as a “negotiation technique” and that it does not intend to modify the tender conditions. ­